A Maori Pantheon Trivia Quiz

Answer:

"Atua" are a wide range of spiritual entities, including gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings who are central to traditional Maori culture and beliefs. The word "atua" means "power" or "strength". In Maori beliefs, the natural and supernatural worlds are one and "atua" are a means of rationalising and perceiving the world.

Ranginui (often referred to as Rangi) is the Sky Father. Together with his counterpart, Papatuanuku, (also known as Papa), the Earth Mother, they are the primodial parents who play a central role in the story of the creation of the world and the Maori people. According to Māori cosmology, Rangi and Papa were initially locked in a tight embrace, and their children, the gods, were caught in the darkness between them.They were eventually separated by Tanemahuta, one of their sons who pushed Rangi into the sky to allow light into the world. After this separation, Rangi remained as the sky, while Papa became the earth. Their children went on to shape the world.

Tanemahuta became the god of the forests and birds. Tangaroa is the god of the sea and all its creatures. Whiro is the dark figure of the panoply being associated with darkness, chaos, and death. He is sometimes referred to as the god of evil. The god of weather, storms and wind is Tawhirimatea, while Ruaumoko control earthquakes and volcanoes. Tiki is considered the first human being and is commonly associated with the creation of humans, although there are numerous versions as to how this actually occurred. The term "tiki" is also used to refer to carved human-like figures in Māori art and culture. Rongo is the deity associated with cultivated food, peace, and fertility, representing the well-being and prosperity of communities through agriculture.

Incorrect options: Baha is the one God in the Bahai faith. Vishnu is one of the principal deities of Hinduism and Anubis is the Egyptian god of the dead. Tara is referred to as the Wisdom Goddess in Buddhism and is the mother of all Buddhas. Habbabkuk is a prophet revered in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Tialoc is the Aztec god of rain while Apedemak is the chief deity in the ancient Kushite pantheon.